Radio journalist shot dead

MANILA (dpa) – A radio commentator in central Philippines was shot dead Saturday, making him the 34th journalist killed over the last five years, an organisation of journalist said.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said Maurito Lim was shot by a lone gunman aboard a motorcycle. Lim was shot in the head as he was about to come out of his car outside the offices of dyRD radio station in Tagbilaran City in Bohol province.

Lim has a daily radio programme and has been critical of local officials linked to the drug trade, the journalists’ group said.

The NUJP reported that there are now 172 journalists killed in the Philippines since 1986.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has ranked Philippines as the third most dangerous country for journalists after Iraq and Somalia.